Last night, Vashti Harrison became the first Black woman to win the Randolph Caldecott Medal since it was first awarded in 1938. In her acceptance speech at #alaac24, which will be published online, Harrison spoke of implicit bias and how BIG was her own first step in “the important work that we all need to do.”
“Every choice is political,” Harrison said. This includes her artistic choices in BIG and the selection committee’s choice to recognize BIG as “the most distinguished American picture book for children” published in 2023.
Harrison noted how—because of this little sticker—children like her are more likely to find BIG in a world that adultifies them and tells them that “big is bad.” And Harrison is right. Newbery and Caldecott winners are widely purchased due to their status, making the committee’s choices quite consequential.
The other winners who spoke—Dave Eggers for The Eyes and the Impossible and Pam Muñoz Ryan for her body of work—echoed this sentiment. “Books should be bigger than you,” Eggers said, calling on authors to write with the “untethered abandon” that readers want and need. And Muñoz thanked the audience for so graciously receiving books that showed—as her grandmother, the namesake of Esperanza Rising would say—”the bones of her.”
What children’s title published in 2023 felt the most consequential to you and the children you serve? Drop a line in the comments below or at ktaksier@ufl.edu.
Conference Blogger Kelley Taksier (they/them/theirs) is a former classroom teacher pursuing a PhD in special education at the University of Florida. Currently their research focuses on students’ access to texts in public schools. As a part of this work, they collaborate with school librarians, who encouraged them to join and attend ALA! They are looking forward to connecting with more school librarians at their first ALA conference in between enjoying all the vegan food San Diego has to offer.
Please note that as a guest post, the views expressed here do not represent the official position of ALA or ALSC.